“American Fiction”: the struggles of a Black writer and what defines “true literature”

“American Fiction” is a 2023 Drama based on the novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett.

It follows the story of struggling novelist/professor Thelonius “Monk” Ellison (played by Jeffrey Wright), who, after being frustrated with his publishers for his works not being “Black enough,” decides to write the most stereotypical Black fiction novel titled “My Pafology” (later renamed F**K) under the fake persona of “Stagg R. Leigh,” a former convict. 

The plot of the film unfolds as he continues with this work of fiction as it gains traction and popularity across all publications and social media, getting praised as the greatest piece of literature to date, all while dealing with his own life and family at home. 

Amongst the cast members include Tracee Ellis Ross as Monk’s Sister Lisa, Issa Rae as Monk’s literature rival Sintara Golden, Sterling K. Brown as Monk’s estranged brother Cliff, Erika Alexander as Coraline (Monk’s girlfriend), Leslie Uggams as Monk’s Mother, and Keith David as a character of Monk’s literature. 

The tone and themes of “American Fiction” center around the concept of Black literature in United States, critiquing the stereotypical tropes of Ghetto or hoodlum backgrounds, as Monk wants his literature to do nothing with race or ethnicity and rather focus on character development, contrasted by his views of Sintara Golden’s bestselling novel, “We’s Lives in Da Ghetto.”

Monk holds an elitist literature outlook on what he considers stereotypical Black stories. This later comes into conflict when he meets Sintara and critiques her work as “Trauma Porn,” where she reveals that she does research for the content she writes, and that those “stereotypical” Black stories are more than just hood and ghetto slang. 

When Monk’s satirical novel gets nominated for the best literature award, Sintara slams it as “pandering” because Monk meant for it to be that way, a contrast between his work and Sintara’s writings. 

The movie heavily criticizes and satires the White Liberal outlook towards stories and novels about minoritized groups in America, especially Black Americans. The idea that SOB stories about ghettoes and hood life would make them consider any of those stories as worthy of awards, nominations, and heck, even movie deals. 

Monk released “My Pafology” in a matter of weeks, and it got calls from all publishers and film productions, regardless of how stereotypical and low-written the story can be. 

On the side, the film also explores Monk’s life with his family, the perspective of the Black elite. As well as the financial struggles of his sister to keep their family homes afloat, the complicated history of Cliff’s homosexuality with his parents, and the infidelity of Monk’s deceased father and how it impacted his outlook and life in general, as well as his writings. 

Overall, “American Fiction” interposes these questions and thoughts through identity, status, and race while interposing the validity of what Black narrative means today and how it is supposed to be represented. Should it be pandered to its liberal audience even if it means enforcing stereotypes? Is it justified if that’s the business that brings profit? 

Or should it be challenged, critiqued to point out the flaws in how American society views its diverse audience regarding what is and what isn’t a true representation of its values? It’s a satirical film with deep themes, as well as comedic in terms of dialogue and characters. 

It offers insight into what writers will deal with when they try to tell and sell their stories, their narrative, and how the market itself can push them to create stories that exist just to suffice their “shock value,” particularly White liberals looking for struggles about minoritized people in America.

It’s a film worth watching, with a great jazz soundtrack and a plot twist ending. I’d give it a 5 out of 5. 

“American Fiction” is still in theaters as of now and has been released digitally on Feb. 6. It has also been nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Score for the 96th Academy Awards on March 10th, with its actors Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown nominated for Best Actor and Supporting Actor.